Apparatus for heating and sterilizing fluids.



v Patented Aug. 7, I900. A. G. WATERHOUSE &. J. S. FORBES. APPARATUS FORHEATING AND STERILIZING FLUIDS.

(Application filed Feb. 24, 1900.3

(.NO Modal.)

Z/m 177 m irED STATES PATENT OFFIcE.

PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO SAID FORBES.

APPARATUS FOR HEATING AND STERILIZING'FLUIDS.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N0. 655,665, dated August7, 1900'. Application filed February 24, 1900- Scrial 1T0. 6,379- (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.- 7

Be it known that we, ADDlSON G. WATER- HOUSE and JOHN S. FORBES,citizens of the United States, and residents of Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Apparatus forHeating and sterilizing Fluids, of which the following is aspecification.

The object of our invention is to provide an apparatus for heatingfluids to a predetermined temperature and to arrange the apparatus sothat all the fluid passing through the apparatus will be heated to thedesired temperature, so that the apparatus can be used for the purifyingof liquids to kill disease germs or for the heating of a liquid and atthe same preventing the liquid being overheated or not sufficientlyheated. This object We attain in the following manner, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a sectionalelevation of one form of apparatus embodying our invention. Fig. 2 isaview of the upper portion of Fig. 1, showing a covering for theweir-tank connected to the condenser.

Referring in the first instance to Fig. 1, a is the source from whichthe fluid to be treated is supplied.

17 is the receiver for the liquid, in the form of a funnel in thepresent instance. This receiver is connected to a pipe '0, which isconnected in turn to one-half of the heat-exchange E. The stand-pipe cis preferably made in two parts, so as to allow for adjustment. One partcarries a stuffing-box 0, into which extends the end of the othersection of the pipe. The heat-exchange E is divided into two water-tightcompartments d and i by a thin partition R. e is a stand-pipe which isconnected to the upper end of the heat-exchange and communicates withthe compartment d, with which also communicates the pipe 0. Thestand-pipe 6 extends into a tank 9 and terminates in a funnel-shapedweir f some distance above the bottom of the tank. The pipe 6 extendsthrough a water or steam jacket M, which incloses nearly the full lengthof the pipe in the present instance.

11 is a heater connected to the jacket M at top and bottomby pipes H andH Passing .stitute.

Extending from the bottom of the tank g is a pipe h, which enters thetop of the compartment z of the heat-exchange. This pipe h is preferablycovered with a non-conducting material, so as to'prevent the escape ofheat before the liquid reaches the heat-exchange.

Communicating with the lower end of the compartment 0. of theheat-exchange E is a pipe 3', which extends up to or slightly above thetop of the heat-exchange and has a dis-- charge-opening K, so that thewater escaping from the apparatus will flow into a receivingfunnel 0c.

In some instances we may cover the tank 9, as shown in Fig. 2, with aclosed hood G, to which is attached a vapor-pipe G, communicatin g withthe condenser-coil G placed in the cooling tank or vat G Surrounding theinlet-pipe c,directly' under the funnel-shaped receiver b, is anoverflowtank 2), communicating with the overflowpipe, so that in theevent of the fluid over flowing the funnel or receiving-weir it willflow into the tank I) and be carried off by the pipe. Thus it will beseen that the normal level of the fluid in the several pipes is thelevel of the fluid in the receiver 1), as indicated by the dotted linesS, and in order that the fluid may escape from the stand-pipe c it mustoverflow the weir f, which is at the dot ted line T.

In operation the fluid to be treated enters from a source of supplythrough the valved pipe a into the receiver 1) and passes down the pipe0 and up through the compartment d of the heat-exchange E, then up thestandpipe 6 until it reaches the water-line S, where it stops. If morefluid enters the receiver, it

simply overflows into the tank b, so normally heating apparatus, thewatervin the jacket M will be heated and the fluid in the stand-pipe (2will expand,so thatits specific gravity Will be less than heretofore,and consequently it will take a higher column of hot fluid to balancethe column of cold fluid in the pipe 0, so that if enough heat issupplied or any fixed or limited degree of heat it will raise the heightof the fluid in the pipe e a proportionate amount above its normallevel. If the height of the pipe 0 and its receiver is adjusted so thatthe hot fluid in the pipe 6 will just run over its weir f, then thefluid that enters in its place, if it is not heated'to thesame degree,will not expand enough to run over, and if too much heat is applied itwill run over fasterand not remain in the pipe 6 long enough to becomeoverheated, so that by adjusting the height of the receiver 1) thetemperature of the overflowing liquid can be regulated to correspond toany degree of heat. When the fluid passes over the Weir f, it falls inthe tank g and then passes down the protected pipe h into the top of thecompartment 7) of the heat-exchange E, and this heat is conductedthrough the partition R, raising the temperature of the incoming coldfluid, so that the coldfluid is heated to a certain degree by the timeit reaches the top of the heat-exchange E, while the hot fluid is cooledby the time it reaches the bottom of the heat-exchange, at which pointit is drawn off through the pipe j. The result is that no fluid can passthrough the apparatus at its normal temperature, but must depend uponthe temperature being raised to a predetermined degree, and the fluidentering cool is raised to a certain temperature, and the fluid leavingthe apparatus is cooled to about the same temperature as the fluidentering the apparatus.

If it is desired to heat and cool the fluid several times-as insterilizing milk, forinstance-a series of apparatus such as abovedescribed may be coupled together for this purpose.

It is often profitable to collect the volatile matter from fluidstreated, and this is generally accomplished by providing the tank 9 withthe hood G, as shown in Fig. 2, and connecting this hood with acondensing-worm G If combustible gases are produced, the same can beconducted to a receptacle or used direct for maintaining the heat at theheater or otherwise.

In some instances the heat-exchange may be dispensed with and the pipe 0coupled directly to the stand-pipe e.

We claim as our invention- 1. The combination in an apparatus forpartment tothe heat-exchange, a stand-pipe communicating with the upperend of said compartment, means for applying heat to the fluid in saidstand-pipe, said stand-pipe extending above the level of the receiver,atank; an outlet-pipe communicating with the upper end of the othercompartment of the heat-ex change, and an outlet-pipe communicating withthe lower end of said compartment, the whole being constructed so thatthe temperature of the fluid must be raised to a predetermined degree ofheat before it will flow through the apparatus, substantially as specified.

- 2. The combination of a receiver, a twopart heat-exchange, a pipecommunicating with the lower portion of said exchange, the receiverbeing so arranged that its height can 'be increased or decreased, astand-pipe com municating with the upper end of the heatexchange, meansfor heating the fluid in said stand-pipe, said stand-pipe extendingabove the level of fluid in the receiver, a dischargepipe communicatingwith the upper end of the other compartment of the heat-exchange, and apipe communicating with the lower end of said compartment, substantiallyas specified.

3. The combination of the receiver, a tWo- .part heat-exchange, a pipeforming communication between the receiver and the lower.

portion of the heat-exchange, a stand-pipe communicating with the upperportion of said compartment and extending above the level of thefluid inthe receiver, a heater, circulating-pipes communicating the heater withthe jacket, a chimney passing up through the heater, and means forheating the fluid in the fluid in the receiver, an outlet-pipecommunicating with the tank and with the other portion of theheat-exchange, an outlet for the other portion of the heat-exchange, a

hood covering the said tank, and a condenserv connected to the saidhood, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof we have signed our,

names to this specification in the presence of two subscribingwitnesses.

ADDISON G. WATERHOUSE. JOHN S. FORBES. Witnesses:

ROBERT W. LLOYD, CHARLES SANDERSON.

